LUBBOCK, Texas—On a windy day in Lubbock two Texans and a junior from Arizona found themselves at the top of the leaderboard after the first round of the Randy Smith Classic presented by Myco Industries, Inc. Scott Barton, 17, of Dallas made six birdies on his way to a 4-under-par 68 and sole possession of the lead in the Boys Division. Taylore Karle,14, of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Lindsay Cullen, 17, of Allen, Texas, share the lead in the Girls Division after each carded an opening-round of 1-over-par 73.

The Randy Smith Classic Presented by Myco Industries, Inc. is a 54-hole tournament conducted by the American Junior Golf Association at The Rawls Course at Texas Tech University. Texans make up the majority of the field, with 100 of the 120 participating juniors coming from the Lone Star State. Six other states are represented in the tournament and three Rolex Junior All-Americans are participating in the event.

Barton played his last 10 holes in 5-under-par to finish at the top of the leader board. After a three-putt bogey on the eighth hole he stood at 1-over-par for the day. Barton credited his 4-under-par 32 on the back nine to his patience.

“I knew I was playing well and that it was only a matter of time before I started making birdies,” Barton said.

Giving chase to Barton are a group of players who also shot under-par for the first round. After notching scores of 3-under-par 69, Jay Calvo, of Baird, Texas, and Sean Frost of Dallas are in second. Bobby Massa, 17, of Grand Prairie, Texas, sits in third with a 2-under-par 70.

In the Girls Division, Karle and Cullen sit tied in first, after carding matching 1-over-par 73s. Karle was the picture of consistency, recording 17 pars and one bogey on the day. She missed only two fairways during the first round, and credited her driver with keeping her in good position.

“I hit it well off the tee and was able to control my drives,” Karle said. Karle is looking for her third career AJGA victory, after winning both the Nike Golf Junior at Las Cruces and the Nike Golf Junior Championship in 2004.

Cullen recorded three birdies and four bogeys during her round, and her hot putter translated into a share of the lead. Her back nine 36 was highlighted by a birdie on the par-5 No. 17.

“I played well,” Cullen said. “My short game was strong and I was able to adjust to the wind,” she added. “Hopefully everything stays the same for the rest of the week.”

Sarah Zwartynski, 16, also of Allen, and Lila Barton (Scott's sister), 15, of Dallas sit three shots back after shooting 4-over-par 76.

The AJGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. The largest association of its kind, the AJGA has a junior membership (boys and girls ages 12-18) of approximately 5,000 junior golfers from 50 states and 30 foreign countries.

Titleist, the AJGA's National Sponsor, has been the catalyst and driving force behind the Association's success since 1989. Rolex Watch USA, a supporter of the AJGA since 1983, became the inaugural AJGA premier partner in 2004.

The second round will begin Wednesday at 7 a.m. off the first tee at The Rawls Course at Texas Tech University. For more information about the Randy Smith Classic presented by Myco Industries, Inc., please contact tournament headquarters at (806) 742-4680.

#AJGA#

Mission Statement

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.